Paccar MX-13 vs Caterpillar C15
Two used heavy truck diesel engine options, compared on the numbers that decide it: used price, the failure that costs the most, and recall exposure. Every figure links back to its sourced record.
| Paccar MX-13 | Caterpillar C15 | |
|---|---|---|
| Used price (observed) | Priced by repair part (see page) | Priced by repair part (see page) |
| Category | heavy truck diesel engine | heavy truck diesel engine |
| Top documented risk | EGR cooler (high) | Fuel injectors (high) |
| Recall status | None found | Recall on record — check serial |
| Our verdict | inspect | inspect |
| Full record | MX-13 details → | C15 details → |
The bottom line
Paccar MX-13: A capable Paccar engine, but the emissions hardware is where the money goes: budget an EGR cooler at $2,200–$2,800, a turbocharger at $3,500–$4,500 (incl. labor), and an eventual DPF replacement at $4,000–$6,000, with injectors $400–$800 each. Inspect the aftertreatment and injector history before buying.
Caterpillar C15: The C15 regularly exceeds 800,000 miles before overhaul when maintained — but Caterpillar stopped building on-highway engines in 2009, so every C15 in a used truck is pre-2010 and NOT California-registerable without a DPF retrofit/engine replacement. The big-ticket repairs: injectors $4k–$6k, turbo $3k–$5k, and an overheat that cracks a head can run $15k–$25k. Two C15-specific NHTSA fire recalls are on record.
Both records show every price, failure mode and recall check with the source. Open the full record for the inspection checklist before you buy: Paccar MX-13 · Caterpillar C15.